Metrovino is ostensibly a wine bar but with Jacob behind the stick, we had cocktails.

Cleared for Departure

Cleared for Departure – Aviation gin, clarified lime, maraschino, creme de violette. The cocktail was Jacob’s take of an Aviation.

If I had more time, I would have ordered the Decatur (Big Bottom bourbon, Manzilla sherry, Cynar, Chartreuse, mole bitters, orange bitters). I didn’t get a chance to try the Big Bottom whiskey while I was at the Great American Distillers Festival so I was curious. Lion’s Mane (Novo Fogo gold cachaca, lapsong souchong, lemon, allspice, Peychaud’s bitters), PX Flip (Pedro Ximenez sherry, whole egg, Angostura bitters), Sally Port Punk (El Jimador blanco tequila, Kopke white port, Campari, Dimmi), Scandinavian Spring (Krogstad aquavit, Maurin quina, lemon, honey, lavender) all sounded fabulous. Or I could be one industry pals and had a Shift Drink (rye, lemon, ginger, Fernet Branca).

I find it very cool that Portland is doing all these wine and sherry/ port cocktails. Very trend-setting. I’ve been into sherry cocktails lately so it would have been neat to tried the PX Flip or Sally Port Punk since I particularly like port as well.

snacks for the crowd

This was the day I subsisted on little bits of food. Metrovino provided us a little something for our mostly liquor-filled bar crawl. Yummy!

Our third stop was Central where I’ve been before when it just opened late last year. Central was serving punch and rather than writing down all the ingredients, I gathered the bottles together.

Central bartenders fixin' us punch

when hilarity ensues...

It was very comical when the bottles kept appearing and of course, don’t forget the lemon. If you look through my flickr set for this, you can see how all of the sudden this “simple” punch grew to have 7 ingredients. No, make that 8. The other ingredient would have to be love…of alcohol.

housemade pear liqueur

However, it was a delightful punch and I really enjoyed the housemade pear liqueur.

We also had tartare at this stop while some others opted to check out nearby Voodoo Doughnuts.

Central

220 SW Ankeny, Portland, OR 97204 – (503) 869-1445

Yur's

I keep getting warned about the non-craft bars but I felt very comfortable at Yur’s. What’s not to like about the free popcorn, pool tables and plenty of character? It’s not a dive bar, not really.

Jameson & ginger

I ordered one of my go-tos, a Jameson & ginger. Aw, look at those adorable colorful straws. Yeah, okay, maybe I got nothing but it was a good drink.

popcorn!

I’m pretty sure I was stuffing my face with too much popcorn but my last real meal was earlier that morning and I didn’t eat much of it.

Yur’s

717 NW 16th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 – (503) 224-0160

Mike Shea of Rum Club

Our final stop was Rum Club. Mike Shea and his crew had prepared us a delicious cocktail but I really didn’t have much time to enjoy it as I had to run back to the hotel to change for the Imbibe 5th Anniversary Party. I suspect it won’t be the last time I will be at this bar. And Portland is only a short flight away.